Pictures of me and Gretchen in costume

Sadly, we did not take first place in the Ramnime costume contest (that honor belongs to Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation). But fun was had by all. My party game, the 10-minute cosplay challenge, seemed like it went over well.

Next year, though, I get to decide the costume. I'm thinking a rajah and his ranee. Mine would look something like this, except the coat will be a different color, among other things (I think I'll leave the punching dagger out of it). For hers, I'm getting an emerald green sari with gold embroidery, some silver-colored jewelry (necklace, earrings, and the head jewelry) on a black velvet top. Pics to come, as this one will probably require some serious investment.

So how was your halloween?

Sadly, no picture for you guys today. No camera was provided for poor little me. And in any case, the food itself wasn't terribly photogenic. Colorful, yes, but not so pretty. Anyways!

Dal
>1/2 lbs channa dal (split yellow chickpeas, available from an Indian grocery store.)
>1 large yellow onion
>1 can stewed or diced tomatoes (about 16 oz. is the size you want)
> Meat Masala, available at an Indian grocery store
> Olive or vegetable oil
> Butter (optional)
> That's it.

Start by making a big pot of salted water. Pick through the dal for rocks. The best way is to spread it out on some hard, clean surface and go through a bit at a time. Put the dal in the water and let it sit overnight.

Sometime during the day, about 5-6 hours before you plan on eating, slowly cook the pot of dal until the peas are tender and meaty. It should smell amazing. This can also be accomplished in a slow cooker that can be started in the morning. Once the peas are cooked, you can refrigerate or freeze them for another time. The ones I used last night have been frozen for about a week.

When it comes time to actually make your dal, start by chopping the onion very finely. Best ways are to chop it very finely or to make thin slices. Heat up a pan to a low heat and add a 1:1 mixture of oil and butter (or just oil if you prefer). Add the onion and caramelize. Cook on very low heat, just enough to make a sound, and cook, stirring frequently, for about 20 minutes.

When the onions are caramelized (i.e. translucent, soft and look like they're melting), add a generous amount of meat masala and stir in. When the onions are completely coated, add the tomatoes and stir. Cook out as much juice as you can, and try to smash the tomatoes down so the entire mixture is more saucy than chunky. Add the cooked dal, sitr thoroughly, and let sit on low heat for about five minutes, until the liquid is mostly cooked out. Serve with hot pita bread and cucumber raita or plain yogurt.

It came out pretty well. It has the consistency of refried beans, but certainly tastes better. I accidentally got stewed tomatoes that included a few extras, like chopped jalapenos and garlic, and while they made the dish taste like Pace salsa, they didn't hurt it too much. Next time, I'll just try it with plain tomatoes. Mango juice, mango lemonade, or beer would all go really well with this.

Since the Week of Epic Fewd, the apartment has started to become a super-special foodie haven. We've had a couple more awesome dishes in recent days: homemade dim sum, a creamy shrimp pasta sauce, etc. My roommate is currently making a chicken pot pie, the ingredients for which have been simmering all day in the slow cooker. He's also made some truly wonderful iced tea from a jade dragon/tropical rooibos mixture. I foresee us having a game of one-upmanship in the near future. Here's what I have on tap for the foreseeable future:

>Chicken Tikka (Chicken breasts marinated in spiced yogurt and broiled), served with curried spinach and yellow rice.

>Channa Dal (Split chickpeas cooked with caramelized onions, masala, and stewed tomatoes) with pita bread, cilantro chutney, and yogurt.

>Homemade hummus, tabouleh, cucumber raita, rice, and pita (this seems like it needs something with a bit more substance, like a kebab or falafel. Any suggestions?)

>A two-fer! Day one: Shrimp and shiitake mushrooms in a marsala sauce over pasta. Use the shrimp shells, mushroom stems, soy sauce, and a few other seasonings to make a broth. Day two: Udon (using the broth) with diced omelette and sliced green onions.

>Grilled Salmon with a marsala-rosemary glaze

>Gretchen and I are going camping on the weekend of the 14th. While we're out there, I'm thinking of making carne asada and all associated fixings (Tortillas, salsa, cheese, avocados), bratwurst, bacon-wrapped corn, and maybe some breakfast veggies. Also, I need to ask her if she wants to bring some beer with us.

Pictures and updates as they come. I love all of you!

I love Indian food, but it's usually terrifyingly expensive, at least the good stuff is. Still, I managed to make a curry tonight, as well as a few sauces to go with it, and all in all it was fairly inexpensive.



( Recipe under the cut )